Enabling digital transactions with credential provided by interaction with an object

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes, at a device running an application, and in response to a user attempting to enable or use an aspect of said application, using said device to obtain image information about an object, said object including indicia, and said image information comprising information about said indicia; using said image information to ascertain identifier information for an object; providing said identifier information to an authorization service; and responsive to said providing in (c), obtaining a response from said authorization service, said response comprising a credential; and (d) using said credential within said application to enable or use said aspect of said application. The aspect of said application to be enabled or used may be (i) a feature of said application; (ii) an amount of a virtual currency within said application; (iii) a reward within said application; or (iv) a purchase within said application.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method implemented by hardware in combination with software, the method comprising:
 (a) at a device running an application, ascertaining an identifier for an object;   (b) providing information to an authorization service, said information being based on said identifier;   (c) responsive to said providing in (b), obtaining a response from said authorization service, said response comprising a credential; and   (d) using said credential within said application.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the information provided to the authorization service comprises the identifier. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the ascertaining in (a) comprises:
 (a)(1) providing information about the object to the identification mechanism; and, responsive to said providing; and 
 (a)(2) obtaining the identifier from an identification mechanism. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the information about the object provided to the identification mechanism comprises image information about the object. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the object comprises indicia and wherein the image information includes information about the indicia. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the indicia comprise a bar code. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a user is associated with the application, and wherein the information provided to the authorization service in (b) includes information about the user, and wherein the response obtained in (c) was determined based on the identifier and the information about the user. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the credential indicates an authorization status of said object. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said using said credential within said application in (d) comprises:
 using the credential to enable or support an aspect of said application. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method as in  claim 9  wherein the credential is combined with at least one other credential to enable or support said aspect of said application. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein said aspect of said application comprises one or more of:
 (i) a feature of said application; 
 (ii) an amount of virtual currency within said application; 
 (iii) a reward within said application; and 
 (iv) a purchase within said application. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method as in  claim 1  wherein the object is an item selected from: physical items, virtual items, locations, events, things, persons, places, and images. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the object is a package. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the object is a package of a foodstuff or confectionery or drink. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the object is a bottle or a box. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the authorization service comprises rules relating to object authorization, and wherein the authorization service determines the credential in accordance with the rules. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the application is provided by first entity and wherein the rules comprise rules set by a second entity, distinct from said first entity. 
     
     
         18 . A computer-implemented method implemented by hardware in combination with software, the method comprising:
 at a device running an application, in response to a user attempting to enable or use an aspect of said application,   (a) using said device to obtain image information about an object, said object including indicia, and said image information comprising information about said indicia;   (b) using said image information to ascertain identifier information for an object;   (c) providing said identifier information to an authorization service; and   (d) responsive to said providing in (c), obtaining a response from said authorization service, said response comprising a credential; and   (e) using said credential within said application to enable or use said aspect of said application.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein said aspect of said application comprises one or more of:
 (i) a feature of said application; 
 (ii) an amount of a virtual currency within said application; 
 (iii) a reward within said application; and 
 (iv) a purchase within said application. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method as in  claim 18  wherein the object is an item selected from: physical items, virtual items, locations, events, things, persons, places, and images. 
     
     
         21 . A device comprising hardware, including a processor and a memory, the device being programmed to perform the method comprising:
 (a) at a device running an application, ascertaining an identifier for an object;   (b) providing information to an authorization service, said information being based on said identifier;   (c) responsive to said providing in (b), obtaining a response from said authorization service, said response comprising a credential; and   (d) using said credential within said application.   
     
     
         22 . A tangible non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for execution on a device, wherein the instructions, when executed, perform acts of a method on said device, wherein the method comprises:
 (a) at a device running an application, ascertaining an identifier for an object;   (b) providing information to an authorization service, said information being based on said identifier;   (c) responsive to said providing in (b), obtaining a response from said authorization service, said response comprising a credential; and   (d) using said credential within said application.